Heddle assembly for a loom harness



Nov. 20, 1962 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 Fig. 2

R. N. SUHR HEDDLE ASSEMBLY FOR A LOOM HARNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORQRobert N. Suhr ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1962 R. N. SUHR HEDDLE ASSEMBLY FOR ALOOM HARNESS Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

INVENTOR. Robert N. Suhr BY Z ZJ ATTORNEY 3,054,688 HEDDLE ASSEMBLY FORA LOOM HARNESS Robert N. Suhr, Marietta, Ga, assignor to Pioneer Heddleand Reed Company, Inc., Atlanta, (2a., a corporation of Georgia FiledDec. 11, 1961, Ser. 1 o. 153,377 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-96) This inventionrelates to a heddle assembly for a loom harness and a method of spacingapart the heddles therein.

Generally speaking, there are, at the present time, two, conventionallyused, methods of passing the warp yarns through the eyes of heddles of aloom harness. One method employs a warp drawing in machine which openates in conjunction with heddles having keyholes therein. These heddleshave keyholes with aligned circular openings, but alternate heddles areprovided with oppositely extending slots in the keyholes. It is arequirement, however, that the heddles be capable of lying flat againsteach other or contiguous for the drawing in machine to operate properly.

On the other hand, the older machine method of threading the eyes of theheddles requires that the heddles be spaced apart. Thus, the prior artheddles which are adapted for this older machine method of threading areprovided with misaligned or staggered crimps which space adjacentheddles apart. In the older machine method, a spring is urged into theheddle assembly such that each turn of the spring is received between apair of heddles.

ter the spring has been installed, it is urged inwardly toward the bodyor central portion of the heddles and a worm rod is inserted through thespring, the worm rod containing a worm which, when the rod is rotated,spaces the heddles apart still further so that they may be individuallythreaded during the period that they are held in their spaced condition.

To the best of my knowledge, no heddle or heddle assembly has beendevised which is selectively suitable for threading, employing both ofthe above described methods. Thus, in the past, many mills have found itnecessary to maintain two separate stocks of heddles of each typedescribed above.

Briefiy, the present invention, which obviates the diiliculty describedabove, includes a heddle assembly of substantially identical heddlesexcept that adjacent heddles are provided with an oppositely extendingkeyhole. In the present embodiment, each heddle is provided with anoffset crimp, or a plurality of such crimps, in identically the sameplace along the length of the heddle, the crimp or projection extendinglaterally. Thus, under normal conditions when the heddles are aligned,the crimps or protrusions nest one against the other with the adjacentsurfaces of the heddles lying contiguous with each other. Longitudinal,i.e. upward or downward, movement along the axis of the heddle, withrespect to the other heddles will, however, misalign the crimp or crimpsof that particular heddle and hence will cause transverse spacing ofthat heddle with respect to its adjacent heddles. In the heddles of thepresent invention, the heddle rod eyes are of a suflicient size topermit limited longitudinal movement of the heddles through a distancesuflicient to arrange a crimp of a particular heddle in an offsetrelation with respect to the next adjacent heddles.

The keyholes of the heddles of the present invention are of the samelength and are misaligned or staggered but have large circular openingswhich are aligned laterally or transversely, the smaller slot portionsof the keyholes being alternately up and down. Thus, in machinedrawing-in, the heddles are aligned so that a release key rod passesthrough the large circular openings of all keyholes and the release keythereon functions in its usual way to space the heddles. On the otherhand, in the hand 3,064,688 Patented Nov. 20., 19%.?

springing operation for the older machine, a rectangular bar, which hassubstantially the same width as the lengthof the keyholes, is passedessentially perpendicular to the heddles through the keyholes to alignthe keyholes and thereby shift each alternate heddle with respect to itsadjacent heddles so as to stagger or misalign the crimps; for acting ascamming surfaces which transversely space the heddles, as describedabove. It is therefore seen that either type of drawing-in procedure maybe utilized with the heddles of the present invention. 7

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aheddle assembly wherein the heddles are contiguous with each other andwherein longitudinal movement of a heddle will cause lateral spacing ofthe heddle with respect to adjacent heddles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heddle assemblywhich may be threaded by use of either type of drawing in machine, i.e.the older drawing in machine requiring a spring to be inserted betweenthe heddles, or the newer type which does not.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heddle asemblywhich is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and eiiicientin operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process forreadily and efficiently spacing apart by an equal amount of juxtaposedcontiguous heddles.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a heddle constructed inaccordance with the present invention, the heddle being of the typeemployed as, say, the even heddles in my heddle assembly.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a heddle of the type foruse as, say, the odd heddles in my heddle assembly.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a heddle assembly or"the heddles shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, carried by a heddle supporting rodof a heddle frame, the heddles having a lance passed through theirkeyholes for causing spacing of the heddles.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heddle assembly of FIG. 3, theheddles thereof being threaded utilizing a drawing in machine.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the heddles shown inFIG. 3 operating in conjunction with a spring and worm assembly used inthe old machine method.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention, it

being understood that in its broader aspects the present invention isnot limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 10 denotes,generally, a heddle produced from a. narrow, thin, rectangular springsteel strip. A wide central portion of the strip forms a body 11 whichis supported by oppositely extending, sheared down legs 12 and 13. Thecentral portion or body 11 of the heddle is provided with the usualpunched warp eye 14, the metal on each side of which may, if desired, beformed in bowed configuration out of the main plane of the heddle 10.Above the warp eye 14, in body 11, is a keyhole 15 having a relativelylarge, central, circular opening 16 and a slotted portion or slot 17which communicates with the circular opening 15 and extends downwardlytherefrom. In other words, the slot 17 is a vertically or axiallydisposed, narrow, elongated aperture, open at its upper end'and close bythe metal of body 11 at its lower end.

At the outer ends of the legs 12 and 13 of the heddle 16 are C-shapedrod receiving plates 13 and 19 which respectively define laterallyopening heddle rod eyes 20 and 21. Thus, the heddle is adapted to bereceived on a frame or harness, denoted generally by numeral 30, byhaving the plates 18 and 19 inserted on parallel heddle supporting rods,such as rod 31, in the customary way as shown in FIG. 3. The heddle rodeyes 20 and 21 are substantially longer in a longitudinal direction thanthe Width of the heddle supporting rods, such as rod 31, and heuceareadapted to shift longitudinally, i.e. upwardly and downwardly, through alimited distance. Normally, however, the heddle 10 is carried in anupright position by a pair of opposed heddle supporting rods, such asrod 31, with that portion of the plate 18 which defines the upper end ofeye 20 resting upon the upper edge 32 of the upper heddle supporting rod31 and that portion of the plate 19 defining the upper end of eye 21resting on the upper edge of the lower heddle supporting rod (notshown).

At the junction of the plate 18 adn the leg 12 is a tapered connectingportion of which is provided with a C-shaped or arcuate protrusion orcrimp 23 deformed out'of the plane of the heddle 10. A similar C-shapedor arcuate crimp or protrusion 24 is provided in the upper end portionof the leg 12, immediate below the shank 22. The distance between crimps23 and 24 is sufficient to receive a spring 62, therebetween.

In FIG. 2, a heddle 40 similar to heddle 10 is illustrated. This heddleincludes a central portion or body 41 oppositely extending legs 42 and43, warp eye 44, end plates 48 and 49 having heddle rod eyes 50 and 51,all arranged in a manner identical to the corresponding structure ofheddle 10. The heddle 49 is also provided with shank portion 52 having acrimp 53 which is normally aligned with the crimp 23. The upper endportion of leg 42 is provided at its upper end with a crimp 54, normallyaligned with crimp 24.

The keyhole 45 in body 41 includes a central circular opening 46 and anupwardly extending, downwardly opening slot 47 communicating with thehole 46. Thus, the keyhole 15 is a downwardly extending keyhole, whilethe keyhole 45 is an upwardly extending keyhole. The heddles 10 and 40are so proportioned that when arranged in juxtaposed, side-by-siderelationship in the usual way on the heddle supporting rods, such as rod31, the large circular openings 16 and 46 are aligned with each otherwhile the keyholes 15 and 45 are staggered such that the slots 17 and 47are in misalignment with each other, i.e.

they extend in opposite directions. The overall length of the keyholes15 and 45, however, are the same.

It is now seen that the flat flexible metallic heddles 10 and 40 areidentical in dimensions and in configuration, except that the keyhole 15on heddle 10 is a downwardly extending keyhole and that keyhole 45 onheddle 40 is an upwardly extending keyhole. Therefore, under normalconditions, heddles 10 and 40 may nest fiat against each other on theheddle supporting rods, such as rod 31 'with the protruding portions ofcrimps 23 and 24 resting in the recessed portions of crimps 53 and 54.

As explained above, when the heddles of FIGS. 1 and 2 are utilized on aloom harness, they are arranged alternately, as illustrated in FIG. 3,there being a heddle 10,-

a heddle 40, heddle 10, heddle 40, etc. in side-by-side relationship.

' When it is desired to thread the warp or yarn eyes 14 and 44 of theheddles on the heddle frame utilizing a worm and spring mechanism, aflat rectangular lance 60, seen in FIG. 3, is first passed through theeyes 15 and 45 of the heddles 10 and 40. The lance 60 has a width Wwhich is approximately equal to or slightly less than the distance fromone end of a keyhole 15 or 45 to the other end thereof. The outer end 61of the lance 60 is tapered toward its end point to facilitate passingthe lance 60 through the keyholes 15 and 45. As the lance 60 passeslaterally through the keyholes 15 and 45, alternately, in a pathparallel to the heddle supporting rods, such as rod 31, it aligns allthe keyholes 15 and 45 of heddle assembly such that the large circularopenings 16 and 46 4 are slightly offset from each other. This causesall heddles 10 to shift longitudinally with respect to all heddles 40.The upward shifting of the heddles 10 misaligns the crimps 23 and 24with respect to the crimps 53 and 54 as seen in FIG. 3. Thismisalignment of the alternate heddles 10, in turn, causes the protrudingportions of all crimps 23 and 24 to ride out of the recessed portions ofcrimps 53 and 54 in which they were nested and thereby urge the adjacentheddles 10 and 40 apart by a distance equal to the amount of offset tothe crimp, and since the crimps 23, 24, 53 and 54 are equally otfset bya distance equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the wireforming coil spring 62, there is provided sufficient space betweenadjacent heddles 10 and 40 to permit the entry of a single revolution ofspring 62 as seen in FIG.5. Therefore, since the lance 60 will passreadily through keyholes 15 and 45 of all heddles 10 and 40 on theheddle frame or harness 30, all heddles will automatically be spacedproperly for receiving the spring 62 between the upper crimps 23, 53 andthe lower crimps 24, 54.

In the usual way, the spring 62, after installation, is worked downtoward the central portions of the heddles 10 and 40, the spring 62being urged through the heddles 10 and 40 sufficiently that a portion ofthe spring 62 protrudes on the other side. Thereafter, a worm rod 63 ispassed through the spring 62, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the worm rod 63having worm 64 thereon. After this has been done, the rod 63 is rotatedfor successively spacing the adjacent heddles 10 and 40 apartsufiiciently that the warp eyes 14 and 44 thereof may be threaded. Oncethe spring 62 has been inserted in the heddles 10 and 40,

the lance'60 may be removed from the keyholes 15 and g 45. Thesubsequent urging of the spring 62 downwardly toward the central portionof the heddles 10 and 40 will tend to return the heddles to theiraligned position with respect to heddle 49. Thus, all yarn eyes 14 and44 will again be aligned so that the warp yarns not shown) may readilybe inserted therethrough.

When it is desired to utilize a drawing in machine, such as shown inFIG. 4, the loom harness is arranged in the usual way on the machinewith the heddles 10 and 40 thereof in transverse alignment. By such anarrangement, the release key 65 on the release rod 66 is readily passedthrough the keyholes 15 and 55, as illustrated in FIG. 4. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, that the drawing in machineincludes a worm 67 which aligns, successively, the heddles 10 and 40 sothat the drawing in needle 68 may pass through the eyes and through thedrawing in needle guide 69 in the customary way.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiments here chosen for purpose of illustrating thepresent invention, without departing from the scope thereof as definedby the aplended claims.

I claim: 7

1. Process of spacing a plurality of aligned juxtaposed heddles onheddle rods wherein the heddles are provided with staggered keyholeshaving aligned openings and aligned protrusions nested in recesses inadjacent heddles comprising passing a lance having a width approximatelyequal to the length of a keyhole progressively through all keyholes foraligning all keyholes and simultaneously heddles on heddle rods whereinthe heddles are provided with staggered keyholes having aligned openingsand aligned protrusions nested in recesses in adjacent heddlescomprising passing a lance having a width approximately equal to thelength of a keyhole progressively through. all keyholes for aligning allkeyholes and simultaneously therewith staggering said heddles and saidprotrusions thereon such that said protrusions no longer nest withintheir respective recesses and act against the surfaces of the adjacentheddles to space the same apart, passing the adjacent coils of a springthrough the spacings between said heddles, removing said lance from saidkeyholes, and urging said spring toward. said warp eyes for againaligning said. heddles.

3. In a heddle assembly of the type wherein a plurality of flat,juxtaposed heddles are. supported by a heddle rod projecting through therod eyes of the heddles and wherein said heddles are provided withstaggered holes, the combination therewith of a camming surface in eachheddle extending laterally out of the plane of the heddle, each heddlehaving a recess for receiving the camming surface of the adjacent heddlewhen said heddles are aligned and lying fiat against each other, the rodeyes of certain of said heddles being sufliciently longer than the widthof said rods to permit limited longitudinal movement of said certain ofsaid heddles, the holes of adjacent heddles being misalignedlongitudinally by a distance suflicient to permit misalignment of itscamming surface when said holes are aligned laterally, such that thecamming surfaces will evenly space said heddles apart when said holesare longitudinally spaced.

4. In a heddle assembly of the type wherein a plurality of fiat,juxtaposed heddles are supported by opposed heddle rods projectingthrough the rod eyes of the heddles and wherein each of said heddles isprovided with a warp eye and a keyhole spaced from said warp eye, saidkeyhole including a large circular portion and a slot communicating withsaid large circular portion, said heddles being so disposed that intheir normal positions on said rods the large circular portions of allkeyholes are aligned and the slots of adjacent heddles extend inopposite directions, the combination therewith of the provision of acrimp in each heddle extending laterally out of the plane of the heddle,the crimps of all heddles being aligned when said heddles are in theirnormal positions for nesting one within another when said heddles lieflat against each other, the keyholes of adjacent heddles beingmisaligned longitudinally by -a distance suflicient to permitmisalignment of said crimps when said keyholes are aligned laterally,such that said crimps will space said heddles apart when said keyholesare longitudinally aligned.

5. In a heddle assembly of the type wherein a plurality of flat,juxtaposed, flexible, metallic heddles are supported by opposed heddlerods projecting through the rod eyes of the heddles and wherein each ofsaid heddles includes a central body provided with a warp eye and akeyhole spaced from said warp eye, said keyhole including a largecircular portion and a slot communicating with said large circularportion, said heddles being so disposed that in their normal positionson said rods the large circular portions of all keyholes are aligned andthe slots of adjacent heddles extend in opposite directions, thecombination therewith of the provision of a crimp in each heddleextending laterally out of the plane of the heddle, the crimps of allheddles being of equal size and being aligned when said heddles are intheir normal positions, said crimps extending in the same direction fornesting one within another when said heddles lie flat against eachother, the rod eyes of certain of said heddles being suflficientlylonger than the width of said rods to permit limited longitudinalmovement of said certain of said heddles, the keyholes of adjacentheddles being misaligned longitudinally by a distance suflicient topermit misalignment of said crimps when said keyholes are alignedlaterally, such that said crimps will evenly space said heddles apartwhen said keyholes are longitudinally aligned.

6. In a heddle assembly of the type wherein a plurality of flat,juxtaposed, flexible, metallic heddles are supported by opposed heddlerods projecting through the rod eyes of the heddles and wherein each ofsaid heddles includes a central body provided with a warp eye and akeyhole spaced from said warp eye, said keyhole including a largecircular portion and a slot communicating with said large circularportion, said heddles being so disposed that in their normal positionson said rods the large circular portions of all keyholes are aligned andthe slots of adjacent heddles extend in opposite directions, thecombination therewith of the provision of a pair of upper and lowerspaced crimps in each heddle extending laterally out of the plane of theheddle, the upper crimps of all heddles being of equal size and beingaligned when said heddles are in their normal positions, the lowercrimps of all heddles being of equal size and being aligned when saidheddles are in their normal positions, said upper crimps extending inthe same direction for nesting one within another when said heddles lieflat against each other, said lower crimps extending in the samedirection for nesting one within another when said heddles lie flatagainst each other, the rod eyes of certain of said heddles beingsufliciently longer than the width of said rods to permit limitedlongitudinal movement of said certain of said heddles, the keyholes ofadjacent heddles being misaligned longitudinally by a distancesuflicient to permit misalignment of said crimps when said keyholes arealigned laterally, such that said crimps will evenly space said heddlesapart when said keyholes are longitudinally aligned.

7. In a heddle assembly of the type wherein a plurality of flat,juxtaposed, flexible, metallic heddles are supported by opposed heddlerods projecting through the rod eyes of the heddles and wherein each ofsaid heddles includes a central body provided with a Warp eye and akeyhole spaced from said warp eye, said keyhole including a largecircular portion and a slot communicating with said large circularportion, said heddles being so disposed that in their normal positionson said rods the large circular portions of all keyholes are aligned andthe slots of adjacent heddles extend in opposite directions, thecombination therewith of the provision of a pair of upper and lowerspaced crimps in each heddle extending laterally out of the plane of theheddle, the upper crimps of all heddles being of equal size and beingaligned when said heddles are in their normal positions, the lowercrimps of all heddles being of equal size and being aligned when saidheddles are in their normal positions, said upper crimps extending inthe same direction for nesting one within another when said heddles lieflat against each other, said lower crimps extending in the samedirection for nesting one within another when said heddles lie flatagainst each other, the rod eyes of certain of said heddles beingsufliciently longer than the width of said rods to permit limitedlongitudinal movement of said certain of said heddles, the keyholes ofadjacent heddles being misaligned longitudinally by a distancesufficient to permit misalignment of said crimps, when said keyholes arealigned laterally, such that said crimps will evenly space said heddlesapart when said keyholes are longitudinally aligned, said upper andlower crimps being positioned between the rod eye and the keyhole oneach heddle and being spaced apart by a distance greater than thediameter of a coiled wire spring employed in the drawing in operation,each crimp being offset from the plane of its heddle by a distancesuflicient to space the adjacent heddles apart approximately the widthof the wire of said spring.

8. Process of spacing heddles apart wherein said heddles aresubstantially identical and are provided with keyholes having largeopenings, oppositely extending slots communicating with said openingsand wherein each of said heddles is provided on one side with aprotrusion out of the plane of the heddle and a recess on the other sideof said heddle, the steps of arranging said heddles in juxtapositionsuch that adjacent heddles have keyholes with slots extendingrespectively in opposite directions, aligning said heddles such that thelarge openings of all heddles are in transverse alignment and theprotrusions of the heddles are received in the recesses of theiradjacent heddles, and passing a lance through said aligned openings topass through said slots of said keyholes and thereby stagger thealternate heddles longitudinally sufficiently that the protrusions ofsaid alternate heddles are misaligned with respect to their adjacentrecesses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSKaufmann Mar. 16, 1937 Kaufman Aug. 12, 1941 Kaufmann Aug. 14, 1945Kaufmann Aug. 26, 1947 Sides June 24, 1958

